Around Here editor/writer

A 29-year-old employee at Kohl’s recently alleged that a co-worker raped her last month in a business office at the department store, Oconee County Sheriff’s officers said Thursday.

The woman reported the assault to deputies on Tuesday, but was not clear on why she waited so long, investigators said.

The suspect, whose whereabouts are unknown, is no longer employed at the store located off Epps Bridge Parkway, according to Chief Deputy Lee Weems.

“We haven’t been able to locate him to get his side of the story,” Weems said.

The man, who most recently had a Duluth address, possibly left the state, Investigator Kevin Nolley said.

The suspect had lived previously in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and could have returned to that area, Nolley said. However, Nolley said no leads have surfaced on the man even though Nolley has been in contact with other law enforcement officials regarding his whereabouts.

The alleged rape occurred in July, but the woman has indicated to investigators there were other sexual assaults on her by the man, Weems said.

The suspect was not in a supervisory capacity over her at the store, Nolley said.